New . Fleetline
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Single-deckers in Service
THEfirst rear-engined Daintier r singledeckers to enter municipal service are now being introduced by Birmingham City Transport. It is the established Cleetline double-decker b u s chassis which forms the basis of these new vehicles, however, rather than the new Roadliner single-deck chassis.
Two important advantages of the new buses, designed for one-man operation, are the low, step-free entrance and gangway, and standardization, mechanically. with the 300 Daimler Fleetline doubledeckers currently being introduced in Birmingham. The new single-deckers are 30 ft. 6 in. by 8 ft., with bodywork by Marshall of Cambridge (Engineering) Ltd. They seat 37 passengers—a surprisingly low figure for modern
single-deckers not designed for standee operation.
A wide entrance is employed, as on rear-engined double-deckers, whilst the space normally occupied by the staircase is partly taken by a large luggage compartment. Exterior panelling of the new buses is in 16 and 18 gauge alloy sheeting, whilst the rear end panels and front and rear " domes" are of glass reinforced plastics.
A total of 24 buses is being purchased.